CFP: Tove Jansson (UK) (10/1/06; 3/24/07; collection)

Proposals are invited for contributions to a Collection of Critical Essayson Finnish author and artist, Tove Jansson, under contract to be published by Cambridge Scholars Press, and for papers for a one-day Jansson Conference, to be held at Pembroke College, Oxford on 24 March 2007.

The recent translation of Janssonâ€™s The Summer Book has renewed and expanded international interest in the writer popularly known for her acclaimed childrenâ€™s books about the charming and philosophically-inclined Moomin characters. We welcome papers from all areas of research, including cross-disciplinary approaches, which deal with any aspect of Janssonâ€™s wide-ranging authorship and artistry.

The deadline for both proposals is 1 October 2006 and those selected for the Collection or the Conference (or both) will be notified soon thereafter. Essays for the Collection should be 5,000 â€" 7,000 words long and final drafts will be due on 31 December 2006. Conference papers should be no longer than 20 minutes. Essays may be presented in condensed form at the Conference. Essays and papers must be in English.

The following topics are offered as suggestions only:

The Moomin Oeuvre: As childrenâ€™s literature As allegory As philosophy Comic aspects The supernatural The franchised MoominsJanssonâ€™s novelsJanssonâ€™s memoirsJanssonâ€™s picture-booksJansson as artistJansson as book illustratorJansson as cartoonistJansson and artistic / writerly identityJansson and politics / nationalismJansson and gender / sexualityJansson and languageJansson in translationJansson in comparison with other writers / artistsThemes in Janssonâ€™s works:ChildhoodThe familyPsychoanalysisIndividuality / communalityBohemia / bourgeoisieLandscape, nature